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Currently I am not looking to replace my D700 I love it and it works for me very well. I am interested in the CSC idea but more as something to keep an eye on rather than jumping into right now. The video, I would have liked to have watched but couldn't get past him and after 4 minutes had to leave him to it I am afraid. I might return to it.
If I can explain why I am looking at the X100s or something akin to it. I have been slowly and steadily building up the amount of work I do with my camera. I didn't want to take the jump and give up my day job in one hit, I have a mortgage and rent etc etc to pay....
However, I have worked pretty much two full-time jobs over the last 18 months; 9-5 as a college manager and every other hour, weekends, evenings and nights doing photography work of one kind or another. I'm a smidgen away from the next stage which is to go part time at my college job. One of the benefits of working in education is they have systems for people to change working hours for a year, working term time only etc etc... They make the transition from working for them and setting up on your own comfortable.
The thing is; my D700 has now become a work tool and I find I am using my phone a lot for fun photography, not that the work isn't fun but you get what I mean. I do love my iPhone and its camera apps but I want something that sits between the phone and the D700. Something I can use in the casual way I do my phone, a carry around. Dragging out the D700 even with just a 50mm on it in a cafe or some such place is intrusive.
I don't think I am ready for my DSLR to gather dust just yet in the same way I am not ready for my OM10 to gather dust. Maybe in time my DLSR will be longingly looked at in the same way the OM10 is mostly now but not for a few years I suspect.
This purchase is my holiday, my birthday, Christmas etc........ In some ways it's my soft-top sports car now I'm 46! It's definitely a payback to myself for the hours of lost sleep over the last 18 months and a kick start into the next 18.
I am still not completely sold on the X100s yet and this thread has given me food for thought for this purchase and those of the future maybe too.

Currently I am not looking to replace my D700 I love it and it works for me very well. I am interested in the CSC idea but more as something to keep an eye on rather than jumping into right now. The video, I would have liked to have watched but couldn't get past him and after 4 minutes had to leave him to it I am afraid. I might return to it.

If I can explain why I am looking at the X100s or something akin to it. I have been slowly and steadily building up the amount of work I do with my camera. I didn't want to take the jump and give up my day job in one hit, I have a mortgage and rent etc etc to pay....

However, I have worked pretty much two full-time jobs over the last 18 months; 9-5 as a college manager and every other hour, weekends, evenings and nights doing photography work of one kind or another. I'm a smidgen away from the next stage which is to go part time at my college job. One of the benefits of working in education is they have systems for people to change working hours for a year, working term time only etc etc... They make the transition from working for them and setting up on your own comfortable.

The thing is; my D700 has now become a work tool and I find I am using my phone a lot for fun photography, not that the work isn't fun but you get what I mean. I do love my iPhone and its camera apps but I want something that sits between the phone and the D700. Something I can use in the casual way I do my phone, a carry around. Dragging out the D700 even with just a 50mm on it in a cafe or some such place is intrusive.

I don't think I am ready for my DSLR to gather dust just yet in the same way I am not ready for my OM10 to gather dust. Maybe in time my DLSR will be longingly looked at in the same way the OM10 is mostly now but not for a few years I suspect.

This purchase is my holiday, my birthday, Christmas etc........ In some ways it's my soft-top sports car now I'm 46! It's definitely a payback to myself for the hours of lost sleep over the last 18 months and a kick start into the next 18.

I am still not completely sold on the X100s yet and this thread has given me food for thought for this purchase and those of the future maybe too.

I sold my Canon 5D Mk II + lenses (including 'L' ones) for a CSC kit... initially an Olympus E-PL2, which was eventually replaced by the OM-D. Best thing I ever did, from the point of view of my enthusiasm for photography. For fun stuff I carry what is probably the smallest compact around - a Sony TX55; it literally fits in my shirt pocket and is smaller and lighter than my smartphone.
It is probably wise to see a CSC as a DSLR replacement. Even something as small as an Oly E-PM2, which has the same sensor as the OM-D, should be capable of excellent results.

I sold my Canon 5D Mk II + lenses (including 'L' ones) for a CSC kit... initially an Olympus E-PL2, which was eventually replaced by the OM-D. Best thing I ever did, from the point of view of my enthusiasm for photography. For fun stuff I carry what is probably the smallest compact around - a Sony TX55; it literally fits in my shirt pocket and is smaller and lighter than my smartphone.

It is probably wise to see a CSC as a DSLR replacement. Even something as small as an Oly E-PM2, which has the same sensor as the OM-D, should be capable of excellent results.

These are my two fun, take anywhere cameras Andrew.
One is my x10, there other is a tiny CSC fitted with a 14mm prime.
[epzimg]3-p1010073.jpg[/epzimg]
Personally I love the Fuji`s, and anything from there "X" series will be good and enjoyable I can assure you :)
Check out these pro blogs.
http://texasshooter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/location-portraits-with-fujifilm-x100.html
http://lindsaydobsonphotography.com/blog/locations-portraits-fuji-x10-and-5d-mkiii-lifestyle-portrait-photographer-hampshire/
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/04/fuji-x10-review/
The x10 are down to about £300 now, and the older silver x100 are down to a little other £500, the newer x20 will be about £500 and the newer x100s about a £1000.
The x100 is pretty small, its only slightly bigger than the x10 compact.
Then there are the "Small CSC`s that are no bigger than a compact fitted with one of the primes like like the Pany 14mm or Pany 20mm pancakes, again these can be pretty cheap packages.
[quote]It is probably wise to see a CSC as a DSLR replacement[/quote]
Maybe if getting the GH3 or OMD, but a small CSC can be slipped in a pocket and taken anywhere.
But the Fuji`s will always have a hole lot more character :)

These are my two fun, take anywhere cameras Andrew.

One is my x10, there other is a tiny CSC fitted with a 14mm prime.

Personally I love the Fuji`s, and anything from there "X" series will be good and enjoyable I can assure you

The GH3 is a good deal bigger than the OM-D (see pic) and is no way a pocket camera. The OM-D + pancake is just about coat-pocketable. But the E-PM2 is better in that role.
[epzimg]gh3-om-d.jpg[/epzimg]

The GH3 is a good deal bigger than the OM-D (see pic) and is no way a pocket camera. The OM-D + pancake is just about coat-pocketable. But the E-PM2 is better in that role.

A few more blogs I dug out for more challenging use of the x100.
http://www.weddingphotojournalist.co.uk/blog/fuji-x100-camera-for-wedding-photographers/
http://neilvn.com/tangents/review-fuji-x100-photographing-a-wedding/
http://www.stevefullerphoto.com/fuji-x100-at-the-paralympics/